10 Jan., 1919.] Field Bay at Longerenong College. 47 



Consider the first four plots. The application of ^ cwt. of super- 

 phosphate gave an increase over five years of 6.6 bushels. The value of 

 this increase at 4s. per bushel for wheat was 26s. 5d. per acre. The 

 fertilizer cost 2s. 6d. per acre. Hence the net profit over the unmanured 

 plot was 23s. lid. per acre. 



ISTow the application of 1 cwt. of superphosphate, costing 5s., gave 

 an increase of 7.7 bushels per acre, which was worth 30s. lOd., and the 

 net profit 25s. lOd. per acre. 



Finally, the 2 cwt. of superphosphate gave a 9.3 bushel increase, 

 which was worth 37s. 2d., and, deducting the cost of the manure, 10s., 

 left a net profit of 27s. 2d. per acre over the unmanured plot. 



It was thus conclusively demonstrated that heavy dressings of super- 

 phosphate, even up to 2 cwt., paid. It was most important to note 

 that these heavier dressings returned to the soil the full amount of 

 phosphoric acid removed by the grain crop, and added a little to the 

 fertility of the soil. The heavy dressings not only fed the wheat crop, 

 and gave the heaviest return the rainfall would allow, but they also fed 

 the grass which followed the wheat, and so increased the stock-carrying 

 capacity of the land. Wheat farming, to be profitable, must be carried 

 out in combination with sheep. The farmer must look to the carrying 

 capacity of his farm as well as his wheat crop for full profits. Hence, 

 the heavy manuring not only gave big returns with the wheat crop, but 

 left sufiicient phosphoric acid to stimulate greatly the stubble grazing, 

 and thus increase the carrying capacity. The lime content of the 

 Wimmera soil enabled liberal dressings of fertilizer to be used to 

 advantage. 



The fourth essential to successful cropping was systematic rotation 

 of crops. They had established a new series of rotation plots this year, 

 and proposed to make them permanent in character. Eight different 

 systems of rotation were being practised. These might be called 

 different systems of farming. Some of the rotations being tested 

 were : — 



(1) Wheat after wheat continuously. 



(2) Wheat after bare fallow. 



(3) Wheat, oats, bare fallow. 



(4) Wheat, pasture, bare fallow. 



(5) Wheat, oats, pease. 



(6) Wheat, oats, pasture, bare fallow. 



(7) Wheat, rape, barley, pease. 



(8) Wheat, barley, pease. 



These plots excited great interest, and promised to give information 

 of a most valuable character to growers on the Horsham plains. 



The fifth. essential for success in wheat-growing, said Mr. Eichardson, 

 was good seed, properly graded, carefully pickled, and sown at the right 

 time and in the right quantity. A number of tests showing the effects of 

 early and late sowing and rate of sowing were examined with great 

 interest by the visiting farmers. 



Mr. Eichardson then referred to the remarkable results obtained in 

 the cultivation of barley at Longerenong. On two occasions in the past 

 five years yields of 80 bushels had been obtained, and this year, despite 



